Burn Injury Lawyer

Nationwide, an average of 450,000 burn injuries receive medical treatment per year. The average number of people who die from fires or burns is 3,500, with the majority of deaths occurring from residential fires. Residential fires can result from defective cooking and heating equipment. Thermal burns, or burns from contact with heat, make up the majority of burn injuries. Other common burns are chemical or electrical in nature. Chemical burns can also happen within the home. Common household cleaners such as bleach and ammonia can cause chemical burns, where the acid or base “eats” through the skin tissues or causes respiratory damages from inhaling dangerous fumes. Not all manufacturers properly label toxic chemicals, warning users of the risk of chemical burn injuries. In this case, a victim would have a case of product liability for inadequate warning. Electrical burns can happen in the workplace, especially in the construction industry. Downed power lines, faulty equipment, power box explosions, and lack of safety gear can lead to an employee sustaining life-threatening electrical burns. In this type of burn, an electrical current flows through the body, causing cardiovascular implications, neurological effects, physical damage, shock, or death. Employers have a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe workplace to workers. This includes a nonhazardous workspace, safety gear, and proper training. It also includes warning workers about potential hazards of a job or location. When an employer fails in any of these duties, a burn victim can take the manager, business owner, or property owner to court in New York for negligence.